Side register control means for the plate cylinders of interchangeable printing modules



Q R. F. slim SIDE REGISTER CONTROL MEANS FOR THE PLATE CYLINDERS OF INTERCHANGEABLE PRINTING MODULES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1967 N P S 0 TF. N E D V R N A l H C R MWWYKZZL- ATTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1969 R. F. SIPIN 3,473,469

SIDE REGISTER CONTROL MEANS FOR THE PLATE CYLINDERS OF INTERCHANGEABLE PRINTING MODULES Filed Sept. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 34 a, #Q- 37 551L412 FIG. 2

INVENTOR RICHARD F. SIPIN BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,473,469 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 US. Cl. 101217 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE The invention provides mechanism for effecting axial and skewing adjustments of the plate cylinders of interchangeable printing modules for variable cut-off rotary web presses. A side register control member is mounted as an integral part of the main press and the same is adapted to automatically engage coacting elements on the respec- I tive interchangeable modules. Rotation of the control member through an eccentric part thereof produces axial movement of an eccentric housing which journals an end of the plate cylinder and rotation of the eccentric housing produces skewing adjustments of the plate cylinder.

This invention pertains to variable cut-off rotary web presses of the type employing interchangeable printing modules. It is directed more specifically to an improved side lay mechanism for effecting axial adjustments of the plate cylinders of the respective modules for register purposes.

It is common practice in multi-unit, variable cut-off, Web presses to provide mechanisms for effecting axial adjustments of the individual plate cylinders so that the plate cylinders of the respective units can be brought into precise register. The known mechanisms provide the adjustability necessary for this purpose, but they have the inherent disadvantage in that a separate and complete side lay assembly must be provided for each interchangeable module and this duplication of assemblies obviously adds substantially to the overall cost of the individual modules. Moreover, in order to provide for remote control of the respective units, numerous manual operations are necessary each time modules are interchanged and this adds to the make-ready time and thus the overall cost of operating the press.

The present invention successfully obviates the disadvantages of the known devices by utilizing a side register control mechanism, the main unit of which is mounted as an integral part of the main press structure and thereby serves as a common means for adjusting the plate cylinders of any and all modules which are mounted in an operative position relative thereto. To complete the side register control mechanism each module requires only simple and inexpensive coacting means as a part thereof and which is adapted to engage and disengage the main control unit automatically upon insertion and removal of a printing module, regardless of the cut-off size, so that attendant manual operations are completely eliminated. Accordingly, the present invention not only affords a significant reduction in the initial cost of the individual printing modules, but it also reduces the make-ready time formerly required for interchanging printing modules and thereby the overall cost of operating the press.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a side lay mechanism for a variable cut-off rotary web press which is relatively simple in design, eflicient in operation and economical to manufacture and operate.

It is a further object to provide a side lay mechanism comprising a main control unit which is an integral part of the main press structure and which is adapted to automatically engage coating elements on the respective interchangeable modules when the latter are inserted into an operative position.

Another object is to provide a side lay mechanism having fail safe characteristics which preclude jamming and/or damage to the mechanism or any associated elements due to negligent or inadvertent operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevatioual view of the mechanism as embodied in a variable cut-01f rotary web press and illustrating only that portion of the press which is necessary for an understanding of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 1.

With reference to the drawings the invention is illustrated as embodied in a multi-unit, variable cut-off, Web offset press each unit of which consists of spaced main frame members 10, only one of which is shown. The spaced frame members 10 are part of the main press structure and provide support for the various mechanisms and elements of the press that are adapted to coact with elements of printing modules, such as is indicated at 11, and which are adapted to be interchangeably mounted in openings 12 provided in the main frames.

For a more complete description of a variable cut-off press with interchangeable modules of the type to which the present invention pertains, reference may be had to the United States Patent No. 3,323,452. For the purpose of this invention, however, it is merely necessary to understand that each printing module consists of spaced auxiliary frames 13 that are adapted to be mounted in the openings 12 of the main frames and that each module contains a plate cylinder 14 that is journalled for rotation in the auxiliary frames. In the case of an offset press, each module also contains a blanket cylinder 16 which is likewise journalled for rotation in the auxiliary frames and which serves to transfer ink impressions from the plate cylinder to a web of paper or the like material as it passes through a nip between the blanket cylinder and a coacting impression cylinder, not shown.

As indicated in FIGURE 1 the diameters of the plate and blanket cylinders of the respective modules may differ in diameter from the corresponding cylinders of the other modules so that a multiplicity of product sizes can be produced. The full lines 14 and 16, for example, indicate the location and arrangement of a plate and blanket cylinder respectively, of minimum diameter Whereas the broken lines 18 and 19 show the location and arrangement of a plate and blanket cylinder respectively, of maximum diameter. Obviously cylinders coming within the maximum and minimum sizes will be located accordingly in their respective modules so that they will be in a position to coact with the elements of the main press structure.

Regardless of the diameter of the respective plate cylinders they are all similarly mounted for rotation in their respective auxiliary frames 13 with the journals 21 thereof, see FIGURE 3, being mounted in bearings 22. The inner race 23 of the bearing is secured between the shoulder 24 of the journal and a cap member 25 which is secured in place by the bolts 26. The outer race 27, in turn, is mounted in a bore 28 which is formed eccentric in a housing 29 and it is secured in a position between a shoulder 30 formed in the housing and a flange 31 on a cap member 32 which is secured to the housing by means of the bolts 33.

The housing 2? is thus secured to the journal 21 of the plate cylinder and is, in turn, mounted in the auxiliary frame 13 for limited rotation as well as axial movement relative to the frame for purposes which will become clear hereinafter.

A rectangular bracket in the form of spaced, parallel bars 34 and 35 and spacer elements 36 is secured to the endface of the cap member 32, the spacer elements being inserted through the bar 34 and threaded into tapped holes in the cap member to secure the bar 34 in position and the bar 35 is similarly mounted over the opposite threaded ends of the spacer elements and held in position thereon by the nuts 37.

In the neutral position of the cylinder, the bars 34 and 35 are disposed substantially in a vertical position and they form a vertical slot to receive the cylindrical actuating member 38 of the side register control mechanism indicated by the reference number 39. The latter mechanism essentially comprises a housing 40 that is secured to the main frame by a plurality of bolts 41 and it is formed in a manner that a portion thereof projects beyond the end wall of the module opening 12 in the main frame. A shaft 42 is rotatably mounted in bushings 43 in the housing and one end thereof is formed with an eccentric crank pin 44 to receive the cylindrical actuating member 38 which is secured in position on the crank pin by means of the snap ring 45.

The opposite end of the shaft 42 is reduced in diameter and is connected by a coupling 46 to the output shaft 47 of a gear reduction unit 48 which is driven by a reversible motor 49 that is secured to the housing 40 by bolts 50. It will thus be evident that when the motor 49 is energized, the shaft 42 will be rotated and because of the eccentricity of the crank pin 44 the actuating member 38 will impart the relative axial motion to the housing 29 and thereby to the plate cylinder 14. The maximum adjustment which can be imparted to the cylinder in either direction will depend upon the eccentricity of the crank pin. Under normal circumstances an overall movement of about one-fourth of an inch, that is, one-eighth of an inch to either side of the neutral or center position, is adequate for register purposes and this will determine the clearance which must be provided at 51 between the housing 29 and the frame members 13 so that full adjustment of the cylinder can be effected. It will also be noted that when such clearance is adequate for maximum adjustment, jamming or damage to the controls cannot occur through inadvertence or over-adjustment. If the motor remains energized upon reaching the maximum point of adjustment in either direction, the actuating member 38 will simply return in the opposite direction and the plate cylinder will merely reciprocate harmlessly until corrective measures are taken.

In order to provide for precise adjustments of the plate cylinder, the actuating member 38 is adapted to fit snugly in the slot between the two bars 34 and 35 which latter is properly shimmed at assembly to remove any clearance between the member 38 and the respective bars. However, the fit is not so tight as to prevent sliding of the actuating member relative to the respective bars when adjustments are made as well as when a module is being inserted into or removed from the operative position. Moreover, the projecting end of the member 38 is tapered as at 38a in the form of a truncated cone so as to assure automatic entry thereof into the slot when a module is inserted. The angle of the taper is such that the member 38 will enter the slot regardless of the axial position of the plate cylinder at insertion and the inner edges of the bars 34 and 35 are also beveled as at 52 to further assist the automatic interlocking of the respective elements.

As is common in rotary web presses, the housing 29 for journalling at least one end of the respective plate cylinders is made eccentric and said housing is rotatably adjustable by means operating through the rod 53 connected to the lower end of the bar 34, to thereby skew the axis of the plate cylinder relative to the coacting blanket or impression cylinder. This adjustment is utilized to compensate for slightly mismounted plates, the leading edges 4 of which are not precisely parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder.

Such skewing adjustments are of a limited nature resulting in limited rotation of the eccentric housing and therewith the bracket to either side of the normal vertical position as indicated by the broken lines in FIGURE 1. The flexibility of the connection between the control unit and the bracket readily accommodates such adjustments without any adverse effect upon the side register.

With specific reference to FIGURE 1, it is readily apparent that the location of the axes of the plate cylinders of the respective modules varies substantially along the plane indicated by the reference numeral 54 with relation to the diameter of the respective plate cylinders. For example, the axis of a minimum size plate cylinder would be located at approximately point 44 Whereas the axis or" a maximum size plate cylinder would be located at point 56 when in the operative position. Therefore, when a module is assembled the location of the bracket formed by the bars 34 and will be predetermined in accordance with the plate cylinder diameter so that it will be in the proper position to interlock with the common actuating member 38.

The variation in positions can be readily observed in FIGURE 1 wherein it will be noted that the bracket for a minimum size plate cylinder is located below and to the right of the plate cylinder axis 55 whereas the bracket for a maximum diameter plate cylinder is to the left and above the plate cylinder axis 56 as viewed in said Figure. Obviously the brackets for intermediate size plate cylinders will be mounted somewhere between these two extreme positions so that the respective brackets will always be in position to interlock with the common side lay control unit upon insertion of a module into the operative position.

While we have herein disclosed a reversible motor for actuating the control unit to effect side register of the plate cylinders so that such adjustments can be effected from a remote and convenient position, it will be appreciated that simple, manually operable means may be utilized for this purpose if desired. Moreover, it will be apparent that the bracket need not consist of bars and spacer elements as shown, but may take any suitable form which will permit of the automatic interlocking feature.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention:

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary web printing press having a main frame a plurality of printing modules adapted to be interchangeably mounted in an operative position in the main frame, and a plate cylinder mounted for rotation in each of said modules, the provision of means for effecting axial register adjustments of the said plate cylinders comprising, a control member mounted on the main frame for rotation about an axis disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the plate cylinder, an axially adjustable housing on each module, means journalling the plate cylinder for rotation in said housing and for movement axially with said housing, bracket means mounted on said housing and adapted to interlock automatically with said control member upon insertion of the module into the said operative position in the main frame, and means for rotating the control member to thereby impart axial movement to the housing.

2. A rotary web printing press as defined by claim 1, wherein that part of the control member which interlocks with the bracket means upon insertion of a module into operative position in the main frame is eccentic as regards the axis of rotation of the control member, whereby rotation of the control member imparts the said axial movement to the housing.

3. A rotary web printing press as defined by claim 2, wherein the eccentric part of the control means is tapered and wherein certain parts of the bracket means are beveled so as to facilitate the automatic interlocking of the bracket means on a module with the said eccentric part of the control member upon insertion of the module into operative position in the main frame.

4. A rotary web printing press as defined by claim 1, additionally including a journal on each end of the plate cylinder for each module, and wherein each journal is rotatably mounted in its respective side frame of its module by bearing structure, each of said bearing structures including an outer bearing race having a fixed position within its housing and an inner race which is held in fixed position on its respective journal by means of a shoulder provided on the journal and by a cap member secured to the terminal end of the journal.

5. In a rotary web printing press having a main frame, a plurality of printing modules adapted to be interchangeably mounted in an operative position in the main frame, and a plate cylinder mounted for rotation in each of said modules, the provision of means for effecting axial register adjustments of the plate cylinders and for skewing at least one end of the plate cylinders, said means comprising a control member mounted on the main frame for rotation about an axis disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the plate cylinder, a journal housing for the plate cylinder and which is mounted in the module for rotation and for adjustment in an axial direction, means journalling the plate cylinder for rotation in said housing and for movement axially as the housing is adjusted in an axial direction, bracket means mounted on said housing and adapted to interlock automatically with said control member upon insertion of the module into the said operative position in the main frame, said housing comprising an eccentric as regards the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder journalled thereby, means for rotating the control member to thereby impart axial movement to the housing, and additional means for rotating the eccentric housing to thereby skew the axis of the plate cylinder relative to other cylinders coacting therewith.

6. A rotary web printing press as defined by claim 5, wherein that part of the control member which interlocks with the bracket means upon insertion of a module into operative position in the main frame is eccentric as regards the axis of rotation of the control member, whereby rotation of the control member imparts the said axial movement to the housing.

7. A rotary web printing press as defined by claim 6, wherein the eccentric part of the control means is tapered and wherein certain parts of the bracket means are beveled so as to facilitate the automatic interlocking of the bracket means on a module with the said eccentric part of the control member upon insertion of the module into operative position in the main frame.

8. A rotary web printing press as defined by claim 5, additionally including a journal on each end of the plate cylinder for each module, and wherein each journal is rotatably mounted in its respective side frame of its module by hearing structure, each of said bearing structures including an outer bearing race having a fixed position within its housing and an inner race which is held in fixed position on its respective journal by means of a shoulder provided on the journal and by a cap member secured to the terminal end of the journal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,012,245 8/1935 Meisel 101-178 2,988,989 6/1961 Crawford 10l152 3,034,429 5/1962 Brodie 101-218 3,108,536 10/1963 Harrison 10l-2l8 3,147,702 9/1964 Martin 101-248 3,366,047 1/1968 Herrnach et al. 101216 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,048,872 12/1953 France.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner J. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

